It has been years since I did any. Looking for input on powders,primers, wads, cases. Loading for small game.

Get the Lyman shotshell reloading manual It will have all you looking for .also will show pics of the different type of hulls are also.

Your question is way,way, to broad to answer, as is.

The best advise I can give is: Go to the Ballistic Products "Load of the week" web page. Look up pheasant loads, rabbit loads, turkey loads, small game loads, coyote,,,whatever. I pretty much guarantee "C" has the loads you need. True, the load may call for a wad you can only get from him. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. At least you are now in the ball park, and can shop around knowing basically what you are looking for. Just make sure you stick with published recipes with no substitutions.

BTW, you probably ain't going to save any money, unless you're using a .410 or short chamber, or something.

What's wrong with an off the shelf small game load? If you can answer that; you know where to start looking. Look for loads with more or less velocity, heavier or lighter shot, hotter primer, etc.

What he said !!

in 12 or 20 ga it is seldom worth your effort. with the current price of shot at around 45 dollars for 25 pounds.

there sits a Mec 9000G on my dads reloading bench but with the current price of lead shot and the price of trap loads and game loads so close to the price of lead. we just buy what we need.

if you shoot a 28 or a .410 then reloading shot shells makes more sense.

if you had a very specific load you were trying to achieve or replicate but it sounds like your only needing a fairly generic small game load say #6 high brass in which case catch a sale buy all you need for the year and go hunt more.

if it is something you want to do for the educational factor then there is good info on other posts above

break out the calculate and add all of it up there are 7000 grains to the pound . 16 ounces to the pound and 400 ounces in a 25 pound bag of shot

I have been unable to find a one ounce load of #4 shot. I am back in the beagle game and I like that load in an open choke. Should have stated that.

Shot shell reloading is actually expensive as lead shot prices are so high. The only advantage is that you can produce specialized loads for things like doves but it takes a lot of tinkering with shot bars and bushings. That being said I don't load shot shells but help a friend who has been doing it for a long time. I do know he prefers the Mec sizemaster because of the way is resizes the brass.I also remember he likes certain cases and the number of crimps he says one is easier and doesn't have to be indexed.

Oh, yeah. That is a candidate.

The Ballistic Products Advantages Manual lists a load that might be what you are looking for:

• Fiocchi hull
• Fio616 primer
• 32 or 33 gr of Universal Clays powder
• PT1215 wad
• 1 oz of #4-6NP shot
• producing 1530 ft/sec @10000 psi; 1565 ft/sec @10200 psi respectively

If that's too hot, and since you are looking for a bit of spread; this is also listed:

• WinAA HS hull
• Win209 primer
• 20 gr Clays powder
• BW12 (wad) with X-Stream Spreader
• 1 oz #4 shot
• producing 1315 ft/min@10500psi.

PS: I am just a messenger. I accept no responsibility for that load, Do your own research, but, this should send you in the right direction.

Thank you T-Rex. That is what I am looking for.

The best advice you can receive right there

X2